Modular display assembly for vehicles

Abstract

A modular display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of display units that may be arranged along an exterior of the vehicle in different orientations. The system offers a modular, scalable, accessible, and simplified approach to exterior displays for automated and other types of vehicles. The displays, being modular, are not tied to the specific mounting location on the vehicle's exterior. The image data for each display is rotated based on the orientation of the display as installed which is identified by reference to the distinct pin connections of each display's control port.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular display system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first port provided along a first portion of the vehicle and a second port provided along a second portion of the vehicle, the second port including a first pin of a first pin type and second pin of the second pin type; 
 a plurality of substantially identical display units including a first display unit and a second display unit, wherein:
 the first display unit is mounted on the first port in a first orientation; 
 the second display unit is mounted on the second port in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation by a first rotation increment; and 
 
 a display control module configured to convey image data to the first display unit and the second display unit, where the image data provided to the second display unit is rotated by the first rotation increment when only the second pin is connected to ground, and no rotation of the image data occurs when both the first pin and the second pin are connected to ground. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is adjacent to a forward pillar of the vehicle and the second portion is adjacent to a rear pillar of the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is disposed along a first side of the vehicle and the second portion is disposed along a second, opposing side of the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The modular display system of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion is adjacent to a first forward pillar of the vehicle proximate to the first side and the second portion is adjacent to a second forward pillar of the vehicle proximate to the second side. 
     
     
       5. The modular display system of  claim 1 , the plurality of identical display units further comprising a third display unit and a fourth display unit, wherein:
 the third display unit is mounted on a third portion of the exterior of the vehicle in the first orientation; and 
 the second display unit is mounted on a fourth portion of the exterior of the vehicle in the second orientation. 
 
     
     
       6. The modular display system of  claim 5 , wherein the display control module is further configured to convey image data to the third display unit and the fourth display unit, where the image data provided to the third display unit is rotated by the first rotation increment. 
     
     
       7. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein each display unit further includes a connector component that extends along an axis aligned with a midline of a housing of the display unit. 
     
     
       8. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein a screen for the first display unit faces a first direction configured for presentation to persons outside of the vehicle, and a screen for the second display unit faces the same first direction. 
     
     
       9. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein a screen for the first display unit faces a first direction configured for presentation to persons outside of the vehicle, and a screen for the second display unit faces a second direction configured for presentation to persons outside of the vehicle, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
       10. The modular display system of  claim 1 , wherein a first connector component for the first display unit extends outward in a first direction when mounted and a second connector component for the second display unit extends outward in a second direction when mounted, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
       11. A method of displaying image data on an exterior of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 transmitting first image data to a first display mounted at a first orientation on a first portion of the exterior of the vehicle; 
 presenting a first image on a screen for the first display based on the first image data; 
 transmitting the first image data to a second display mounted at a second orientation on a second portion of the exterior of the vehicle, the second orientation being rotated by a first increment relative to the first orientation; 
 automatically rotating the first image data by the first increment before presenting a second image on a screen for the second display, the second image based on the rotated first image data; and 
 wherein the first image data is automatically rotated in response to detection of a first connection pattern for the second display that is different than a second connection pattern for the first display unit, and the first connection pattern includes one or more ground connections and the second connection pattern has no ground connections. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first increment is approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first increment is approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting the first image data to a third display mounted at a third orientation on a third portion of the exterior of the vehicle, the third orientation being rotated by a second increment relative to the first orientation that is different than the first increment; 
 automatically rotating the first image data by the second increment before presenting the first image data as a third image on a screen for the third display; and 
 wherein the first image data is automatically rotated by the second increment in response to detection of a third connection pattern for the third display that is different from either of the first connection pattern and the second connection pattern. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first connection pattern includes two ground connections, and the third connection pattern includes only one ground connection. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first connection pattern includes a first pin of a first type connected to ground and a second pin of a second type connected to ground, and the second connection pattern includes a third pin of the first type disconnected to ground and a fourth pin of the second type disconnected from ground. 
     
     
       17. A vehicle incorporating a modular display system, the vehicle comprising:
 a first control port comprising a first set of pins including a first pin of a first pin type and a second pin of a second pin type that differs from the first pin type formed on a first portion of an exterior of the vehicle; 
 a first display unit connected to the first control port; and 
 a display control module configured to automatically reorient image data for presentation on the first display unit only when either:
 there is no connection to ground by either the first pin or the second pin, or 
 only the first pin of the first set of pins is connected to ground, and 
 
 wherein the display control module is otherwise configured to maintain an original orientation of the image data. 
 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 17 , further comprising a second display unit and only the first display unit is directly connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the vehicle includes a second control port connected to the second display unit, and the display control module is configured to recognize connections associated with each of the pin types in both the first control port and the second control port and reorient the image data in response to their respective connection patterns. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are substantially identical and interchangeable.